A cli to browse and watch anime (alone AND with friends). This tool scrapes the site allanime.

Showcase

ani-cli-demo.webm

Table of Contents

• Fixing errors
• Install
  • Tier 1: Linux, Mac, Android
  • Tier 2: Windows, iOS, Steam Deck
  • From Source
• Uninstall
• Dependencies
  • Ani-Skip
• Homies
• Contribution Guidelines
• Disclaimer

Fixing errors

If you encounter No results found (and are sure the prompt was correct) or any breaking issue, then make sure you are on latest version by typing sudo ani-cli -U to update on Linux, Mac and Android. On Windows, run windows terminal preview and there type ani-cli -U. If after this the issue persists then open an issue.

Install

Tier 1 Support: Linux, Mac, Android

These Platforms have rock solid support and are used by maintainers and large parts of the userbase.

Linux

Native Packages

Native packages have a more robust update cycle, but sometimes they are slow to upgrade.
If the one for your platform is up-to-date we suggest going with it.

Debian 13/unstable

sudo apt install ani-cli

Fedora

To install mpv (and vlc) you need RPM Fusion free enabled. Simply follow the instructions here: https://rpmfusion.org/Configuration To be able to install syncplay, you'll need to enable this copr repo (instructions included): https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/batmanfeynman/syncplay/.

To install ani-cli:

sudo dnf copr enable derisis13/ani-cli
sudo dnf install ani-cli

If for your distro uses rpm and you would like to see a native package, open an issue.

Arch

Build and install from the AUR:

yay -S ani-cli

Also consider ani-cli-git

Gentoo

Build and install from the GURU:

sudo eselect repository enable guru
sudo emaint sync -r guru
sudo emerge -a ani-cli

Consider using the 9999 ebuild.

sudo emerge -a =app-misc/ani-cli-9999

OpenSuse

On Suse the provided MPV and VLC packages are missing features that are used by ani-cli. The only required is the "Only Essentials" repository which has versions for each Suse release. You can find instructions on this here.

To add the ani-cli copr repo, update then install ani-cli run (on both versions):

zypper addrepo https://download.copr.fedorainfracloud.org/results/derisis13/ani-cli/opensuse-tumbleweed-x86_64/ ani-cli
zypper dup
zypper install ani-cli

You'll get a warning about Signature verification failed [4-Signatures public key is not available] but this can be ignored from the prompt.

Note: package is noarch, so any architecture should work, even though the repo is labelled x86-64

MacOS

Install dependencies (See below)

Install HomeBrew if not installed.

git clone "https://github.com/pystardust/ani-cli.git" && cd ./ani-cli
cp ./ani-cli "$(brew --prefix)"/bin
cd .. && rm -rf ./ani-cli

To install (with Homebrew) the dependencies required on Mac OS, you can run:

brew install curl grep aria2 ffmpeg git fzf yt-dlp && \
brew install --cask iina

Why iina and not mpv? Drop-in replacement for mpv for MacOS. Integrates well with OSX UI. Excellent support for M1. Open Source.

Android

Install termux (Guide)

Termux package

pkg up -y
pkg install ani-cli

If you're using Android 14 make sure to run this due to #1206:

pkg install termux-am

For players you can use the apk (playstore/fdroid) versions of mpv and vlc. Note that these cannot be checked from termux so a warning is generated when checking dependencies.

Tier 2 Support: Windows, iOS, Steam Deck

While officially supported, installation is more involved on these platforms and sometimes issues arise.
Reach out if you need help.

Windows

First, you'll need windows terminal preview. (Install) It comes preinstalled with Windows 11

Then, install scoop. You will use this to install and update ani-cli from time to time. (Install) Follow quickstart.

scoop bucket add extras
scoop install ani-cli fzf mpv git

Consider also installing yt-dlp and aria2 for downloading to work

Dependencies

All dependencies can be installed with scoop (from the extras bucket), however some users experienced that installed programs aren't always added to the path. If this happens installing from winget instead usually works.

Note that curl can cause issues. ani-cli has been tested unsuccessfully with curl 7.83.1 and successfully with 7.86.0. If you run into issues, try the scoop install or grab the newest curl you can find.

iOS

Install iSH and VLC from the app store.

Make sure apk is updated using apk update; apk upgrade then run this:

apk add grep sed curl fzf git aria2 ncurses
apk add ffmpeg
git clone https://github.com/pystardust/ani-cli ~/.ani-cli
cp ~/.ani-cli/ani-cli /usr/local/bin/ani-cli
chmod +x /usr/local/bin/ani-cli
rm -rf ~/.ani-cli

note that downloading is going to be very slow. This is an iSH issue, not an ani-cli issue.

Steam Deck

Copypaste script:

• Switch to Desktop mode (STEAM Button > Power > Switch to Desktop)
• Open Konsole (Steam Deck Icon in bottom left corner > System > Konsole)
• Copy the script, paste it in the CLI and press Enter("A" button on Steam Deck)

[ ! -d ~/.local/bin ] && mkdir ~/.local/bin && echo "export PATH=$HOME/.local/bin:\$PATH" >> ".$(echo $SHELL | sed -nE "s|.*/(.*)\$|\1|p")rc"

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/junegunn/fzf.git ~/.fzf
~/.fzf/install

mkdir ~/.aria2c
curl -o ~/.aria2c/aria2-1.36.0.tar.bz2 https://github.com/q3aql/aria2-static-builds/releases/download/v1.36.0/aria2-1.36.0-linux-gnu-64bit-build1.tar.bz2
tar xvf ~/.aria2c/aria2-1.36.0.tar.bz2 -C ~/.aria2c/
cp ~/.aria2c/aria2-1.36.0-linux-gnu-64bit-build1/aria2c ~/.local/bin/
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/aria2c

curl -L https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/latest/download/yt-dlp -o ~/.local/bin/yt-dlp
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/yt-dlp

mkdir ~/.patch
curl -o ~/.patch/patch.tar.zst https://mirror.sunred.org/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/patch-2.7.6-10-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
tar xvf ~/.patch/patch.tar.zst -C ~/.patch/
cp ~/.patch/usr/bin/patch ~/.local/bin/

git clone https://github.com/pystardust/ani-cli.git ~/.ani-cli
cp ~/.ani-cli/ani-cli ~/.local/bin/

flatpak install io.mpv.Mpv

press enter("A" button on Steam Deck) on questions

Installation in steps:

Install mpv (Flatpak version):

flatpak install io.mpv.Mpv

press enter("A" button on Steam Deck) on questions

Install fzf:

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/junegunn/fzf.git ~/.fzf
~/.fzf/install

press enter("A" button on Steam Deck) on questions

Make a ~/.local/bin folder if doesn't exist and add it to $PATH

[ ! -d ~/.local/bin ] && mkdir ~/.local/bin && echo "export PATH=$HOME/.local/bin:\$PATH" >> ".$(echo $SHELL | sed -nE "s|.*/(.*)\$|\1|p")rc"

Install aria2 (needed for download feature only):

mkdir ~/.aria2c
curl -o ~/.aria2c/aria2-1.36.0.tar.bz2 https://github.com/q3aql/aria2-static-builds/releases/download/v1.36.0/aria2-1.36.0-linux-gnu-64bit-build1.tar.bz2
tar xvf ~/.aria2c/aria2-1.36.0.tar.bz2 -C ~/.aria2c/
cp ~/.aria2c/aria2-1.36.0-linux-gnu-64bit-build1/aria2c ~/.local/bin/
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/aria2c

Install yt-dlp (needed for download feature only):

curl -L https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releases/latest/download/yt-dlp -o ~/.local/bin/yt-dlp
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/yt-dlp

Install patch (needed for self-update feature [ -U ] ):

mkdir ~/.patch
curl -o ~/.patch/patch.tar.zst https://mirror.sunred.org/archlinux/core/os/x86_64/patch-2.7.6-10-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
tar xvf ~/.patch/patch.tar.zst -C ~/.patch/
cp ~/.patch/usr/bin/patch ~/.local/bin/

Install ani-cli:

git clone https://github.com/pystardust/ani-cli.git ~/.ani-cli
cp ~/.ani-cli/ani-cli ~/.local/bin/

Optional: add desktop entry:

echo '[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=Application
Exec=bash -c "source $HOME/.'$(echo $SHELL | sed -nE "s|.*/(.*)\$|\1|p")'rc && konsole --fullscreen -e ani-cli"
Name=ani-cli' > $HOME/.local/share/applications/ani-cli.desktop

The .desktop entry will allow to start ani-cli in Konsole directly from "Gaming Mode" In Steam Desktop app: Add game > Add a non-steam game > tick a box for ani-cli > Add selected programs

Installing from source

This method works for any unix-like operating system and is a baseline for porting efforts.

Install dependencies (See below)

git clone "https://github.com/pystardust/ani-cli.git"
sudo cp ani-cli/ani-cli /usr/local/bin
rm -rf ani-cli

Uninstall

• apt:

sudo apt remove ani-cli
# to remove the repository from apt
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/ani-cli.asc /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ani-cli-debian.list

• dnf:

sudo dnf remove ani-cli      # for ani-cli
# disable the repo in dnf
dnf copr disable derisis13/ani-cli

You might want to uninstall RPM fusion if you don't use it otherwise

• zypper:

zypper remove ani-cli
zypper removerepo ani-cli

You might want to remove packman-essentials if you don't need it otherwise

• AUR:

yay -R ani-cli

• Scoop:

scoop uninstall ani-cli

• Linux:

sudo rm "/usr/local/bin/ani-cli"

• Mac:

rm "$(brew --prefix)/bin/ani-cli"

• Windows: In Git Bash run (as administrator):

rm "/usr/bin/ani-cli"

• Termux package

pkg remove ani-cli

• Android:

rm "$PREFIX/bin/ani-cli"

• Steam Deck

rm "~/.local/bin/ani-cli"
rm -rf ~/.ani-cli

optionally: remove dependencies:

rm ~/.local/bin/aria2c
rm ~/.local/bin/yt-dlp
rm -rf "~/.aria2"
rm -rf "~/.fzf"
flatpak uninstall io.mpv.Mpv

• iOS

rm -rf /usr/local/bin/ani-cli

To uninstall other dependencies:

apk del grep sed curl fzf git aria2 ffmpeg ncurses

Dependencies

• grep
• sed
• curl
• mpv - Video Player
• iina - mpv replacement for MacOS
• aria2c - Download manager
• yt-dlp - m3u8 Downloader
• ffmpeg - m3u8 Downloader (fallback)
• fzf - User interface
• ani-skip (optional)
• patch - Self updating

Ani-Skip

Ani-skip is a script to automatically skip anime opening sequences, making it easier to watch your favorite shows without having to manually skip the intros each time (from the original README).

For install instructions visit ani-skip.

Ani-skip uses the external lua script function of mpv and as such – for now – only works with mpv.

Warning: For now, ani-skip does not seem to work under Windows.

Note: It may be, that ani-skip won't know the anime you're trying to watch. Try using the --skip-title <title> command line argument. (It uses the aniskip API and you can contribute missing anime or ask for including it in the database on their discord server).

Homies

• animdl: Ridiculously efficient, fast and light-weight (supports most sources: allanime, zoro ... (Python)
• jerry: stream anime with anilist tracking and syncing, with discord presence (Shell)
• anipy-cli: ani-cli rewritten in python (Python)
• Dantotsu: Rebirth of Saikou, Best android app for anime/manga/LN with anilist integration (Kotlin)
• mangal: Download & read manga from any source with anilist sync (Go)
• lobster: Watch movies and series from the terminal (Shell)
• mov-cli: Watch movies/shows in the cli (Python/Shell)
• dra-cla: ani-cli equivalent for korean dramas (Shell)
• redqu: A media centric reddit client (Clojure)
• doccli: A cli to watch anime with POLISH subtitles (Python)
• GoAnime: A CLI tool to browse, play, and download anime in Portuguese(Go)